Bearing



Jan. 30, 1951 H. A. SCHMITZ, JR 2,539,932

BEARING Filed May 12, 1945 I N VEN ZOR. Henry A5chmLtz,Jr:

AT TORNEYI i atented an.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 This invention relates to a bearing and has particular reference to a bearing for rotating shafts which are coated with ceramic enamel or other suitable material to protect them from corrosion, as where employed in vessels in which chemical ingredient are mixed.

Where a coated shaft is employed in a vessel to drive a propeller or the like therein for agitation of the contents thereof, the shaft ordinarily is driven by a motor located on the outside of the Vessel and rotates within a stuffing' box disposed within either the wall or cover of the vessel.

(Upon continuous rotation within the stuffing box .the coating onthe shaft is worn off as the coating ordinarily provides an imperfect bearing stirface. The wearing away of the coating requires frequent cleaning of the shaft and re-enameling or coating thereof. Y

The principal object of the invention is to provide a bearing for a shaft having a protective coating in which the coating on the shaft is not 'worn off upon rotation of the shaft.

Another object is to provide a bearing sleeve sealed upon a coated shaft.

In accordance with the invention, the bearing for an enamel coated rotating shaft has an outer stufiing box secured to a vessel wall and an inner stufling box secured to the shaft to rotate therewith, the latter being provided with an outer sleeve machined to a true diameter concentric with'the axis of -the shaft for rotating contact with the outer stuffing box.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated "in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sec ional view of the bearing of the invention as employed with an enamel linedshaft and a vessel with only a portion of the wall of the vessel being shown;

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the outer end of the bearing with parts shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

The bearing of the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises in general, the inner stufiing box I which is secured to the shaft 2 to rotate therewith within the outer stufling box 3 which is secured to the vessel wall 4. The shaft 2 is coated with ceramic enamel 5 to prevent corrosion thereof by the contents of the vessel. The

r 4 Claims (01. 308-31132) 2. shaft may be driven by a motor or other suit= able drive (not shown) to actuate a propeller blade or other agitator for agitation 'of'th'e contents of the vessel. I

The inner s'tufling box I has a gland B which encircles the shaft 2 in close fitting relation therewith and extends ther'ealong a short distance.

The outer end of gland 6 is provided, with the outwardly directed circumferential flange 1 and the inner end has the tapered face 8'.

A sleeve 9 is assembled concentrically around the gland 6- and the shaft 2 and extends slightly beyond the inner end of the stufiing box I. One end portion of the sleeve 9 extends to a line adjacent the flange '1 of gland 6 while theother end is provided with the inwardly'turned flange III which encircles the shaft 2 in close relation therewith.

The inner face I I of the flange Ill'is-tapered opposite to tapered'face 8" of gland 6 and a wedgeshaped recess is formed therebetween.

The packing I2 is mounted around-the shaft 2 within the recess formed between the gland l5 and the sleeve 9. Thepacking I2 is of any suitable compressible non-corrosive material. Pressure is applied to the packing I2 to compress the same into tight contact with theshaft 2 by the gland '6 when the latter is moved toward the flange I0 by means of cap screws I 33WhlCh extend through the flange I of gland 6 and are threaded into the end of the sleeve 9.

'Ihis compressing of the packing I2 tightly secures and seals the inner stuffing box I to the shaft 2 forrotation therewith.

The-sleeve 9 of the stuffing box I is machined on the outside to close tolerances. and'is concentric with the axis of rotation of the shaft 2. The compression of the packing I 2 to secure the box I to the shaft 2 does not effect the true.

outer bearing surface of the sleeve 9 and the sleeve presents a substantially smooth perfectly outer stufilng box 3.

The outer stuffing box 3, within which the inner box I rotates upon rotation of the shaft 2, comprises in general the gland I4, the outer packing I5 and the circumferential flange I6 of the sleeve member IT. The member I! extends through an opening in the vessel wall 4 and is welded to the wall to constitute a reinforcement therefor. I

The member I! extends for substantially the length of stuffingbox 3 and the flange I6 thereof closely encircles the inner rotating stufllng box I at the end thereof provided with the flange In of sleeve 9. The flange I6 has an inner face I8 that is tapered from the perpendicular in the same direction as the face II of the fiange Ill.

The packing I5 of stufling box 3 and the gland I4 are assembled within sleeve member I1 and around the inner stufling box I.

The outer end of gland I4 is provided with the circumferential flange I9 which is disposed adjacent the outer surface of reinforcement member II. Cap screws 20 extend through the flange I9 and are threaded into the member I1 to secure the gland I4 thereto.

The inner face 2| of the gland I4 tapers oppositely to face I8 of the flange I6 and in the same direction as the face 8 of the gland B.

The packing I5 which is of a suitable bearing material is confined around the inner stuifing box I within the recess between the tapered faces I8 and 2|, respectively of the flange I6 and the gland I I. This locates the packing I5 substantially concentrically with the packing I2 of the inner box I.

The packing I5 is compressed between flange I6 and gland I4 to seal the bearing between the inner stufling box I and the outer stuffing box 3, when the gland I4 is moved toward the flange I6 by tightening the screws 20.

The several metal parts of the stufling boxes are fabricated from a suitable non-corrosive al- 10y "and the packings I2 and I5 are of impregnated materials that are resistant to corrosion by the contents of the vessel with which the bearing of the invention is employed.

' The seals for the entire assembly are provided by the outer packing I5 which is compressed against the smoothly machined surface of the sleeve 9 and the packin I2 compressed between the sleeve 9 and shaft 2 within the location of the outer packing l5.

-In assembling the stuffing boxes with the shaft 2 inner box I is tightly secured to shaft 2 to rotate therewith and the outer stuffing box 3 is adjusted to permit free rotation of the inner box I therein. Since the stufiing box -I rotates with the shaft, the enamel coating 5 is not worn off the shaft. ,The packing I5 of stuffing box 3 bears against 'the smooth surface of the rotating sleeve 9, and is readily replaceable when worn without disturbingthe' inner stuffing box I.

' Various embodiments of theinvention may be rotating shaft and the like,

against said shaft, means to secure said gland and sleeve members together and compress the packing material disposed therebetween into tight fitting relation with said shaft to effect rotation of said members and packing with the shaft, and a sealed stuifing box provided concentrically around said sleeve and inner gland and within which the sleeve rotates upon rotation of the shaft.

2. A bearing for a rotating shaft having a protective coating to protect the same from corrosion, which comprises an inner stuffing box secured to said shaft to rotate therewith and having an outer sleeve machined to close tolerance limits providing a substantially smooth outer bearing surface for said box, and an outer stuffing box disposed concentrically around said inner stufiing box and tightened less than said inner stuffing box to provide for free rotation of the sleeve of the inner stuffing box therein when the latter is rotated by said shaft.

3. A bearing for a rotating shaft having a protective coating of non-uniform thickness to protect the same from corrosion which comprises an inner stuiling box, a packing tightly compressed within said box to secure the latter to said shaft for rotation therewith, an outer sleeve for said inner box machined to close tolerance limits of true concentricity with the axis of rotation of the shaft, and an outer stufling box disposed concentrically around said inner stuffing box and having a packing compressed therein into contact with said concentric sleeve with said packing providing a bearing and seal for the inner stuffing box upon rotation of the latter by said shaft.

4. In a bearing for a shaft having surface irregularities, a stufiing box sleeve having a packing therein mounted on the shaft and having said packing tightened thereon to compel rotation of the sleeve with the shaft, the outer surface of the sleeve being machined circular and concentric to the axis of rotation of the shaft for providing the same as a supporting bearing for the shaft unaffected by the surface irregularities of the shaft.

HENRY A. SCHMITZ, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Hillier Aug. 18, 1942 

